How to Improve My English Skills If I'm Working Full-Time?

How often do you feel that your full-time job is keeping you from dedicating the time you need to improve your English skills? In this article, we outline some advice to make sure you keep your motivation level high so you can reach your English-learning goals. We start with motivation because it is the most important aspect of language learning. Without motivation, you’ll lose the big picture as to why improving your English is important.
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How to Improve My English Skills If I'm Working Full-Time

Think of the Why

You need to know why improving your English means so much to you.

How will you feel when your English is at an advanced level?
What professional goals will you be able to accomplish?
What new opportunities will open up to you?

Write these down. Place them in prominent places so you’ll be reminded about it regularly. Start your day by taking a look at these thoughts because keeping them in mind will help you find the time during the day to make improvements.

Here are some specific examples of how you can improve your English even though you work full time. Some of the items on the list you can squeeze into your day with just a few minutes here and there. Other items on the list will require you to set aside blocks of time. Get your agenda out and take a look at where you can set aside time for some of these activities.

1. Integrate English learning to your existing activities

Start by writing a list of your hobbies and favorite activities. Which of them might you be able to do while you practice your English? Check out groups in Facebook and meetup.com to see where you might be able to participate in these activities with others in an English-language setting. Head over to Soundcloud and iTunes and look for podcasts that focus on topics that interest you. Download the podcasts to your device and you can listen to them while you commute to work, workout at the gym, or do any chores around the house.
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2. Improve your English writing

A common question we get from students is 'how to improve my English writing skills?' One way that can motivate you would be to join a writing contest. For 2017, you can see a list of them here. Many of the contests do not require an entrance fee to enter. Some also have a short maximum word count.

You can practice writing sentences and phrases on the HiNative.com app and website. With HiNative, you can also ask questions such as ‘does this sound native?’ For longer texts such as paragraphs, you can practice on lang-8.com. For even longer texts, such as articles of 300 words or longer, you can send them into yozzi.com for feedback by Native speakers. You can also use LingQ or other language-learning platforms to leave samples of your writing.
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3. Practice your English speaking skills

Join Toastmasters. At Toastmasters, you can practice your public speaking skills. Find a Toastmasters that focuses on speaking in English and you’ll be able to improve your listening skills as well as your public speaking skills in English.

Your area may have other kinds of similar groups as well. So take a look at the meetup.com for your area to see what groups exist for English learning and public speaking practice in English.Of course, you should also check out Rype where you can book daily 1-on-1 lessons with handpicked professional teachers.
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4. Make the most of language learning apps

Use apps during your commute, while you wait in line, and in short breaks throughout the day. There are a lot of different apps that will help you improve your English while on the go. Some of the top apps include LingQ, Clozemaster, HiNative and Memrise. Each app has its own pluses and minuses.

For example premium members of LingQ, Clozemaster and Memrise can access material offline. Premium members of HiNative can leave and listen to recordings. LingQ has the advantage that you can read articles while you listen to a native speaker read the article out loud. It will help your pronunciation, listening skills, and vocabulary. You can store vocabulary lists for later review.Check out the full list of our recommended language learning apps.
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5. Keep a Journal

Start writing a journal in English. You’ll enjoy recording your thoughts in English and as the months go by you can take a look at past entries and watch how you’ve improved your ability to express yourself in English. Observe passages where you struggle to express yourself and look for ways to become more descriptive and clear in your writing.
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6. Set Goals

Although studying for proficiency tests is tedious, sometimes passing a proficiency test is a way to prove that you’ve reached a particular goal in your level of English learning. If you don’t intend to pass a test such as the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) then at least mark your own goals and standards so that you can track your progress. This means keeping track of the amount of time you spend working on your English, observing the methods that help you improve, taking note of which methods you enjoy and which you find tedious.

Some apps such as LingQ help you set and track your goals. In the case of LingQ, you can see data on your usage and your vocabulary build up.This means keeping track of the amount of time you spend working on your English, observing the methods that help you improve, taking note of which methods you enjoy and which you find tedious. Some apps such as LingQ help you set and track your goals. In the case of LingQ, you can see data on your usage and your vocabulary build up.
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7. Learn your favorite songs

Look up the lyrics to some of your favorite songs. Spend some time listening to the songs while reading the lyrics. If there are expressions or words you don’t understand, you can use Hi Native to ask what they mean. Learning the meanings of songs you already like is a fun way to improve your English. Next time you hear the song at random, you’ll understand the full meaning and might find yourself singing along.
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8. Go out of your way to do things in English

Consider the variety of things you do day by day and week by week. Sometimes you have to make a phone call to a service center. Other times you need to use a chat window on a company website. Sometimes you check into social media or browse the Internet. You can adjust your settings to English and engage in English with personnel next time you need customer service.
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